Stop Bashing Trump For Not Reciting The Apostles’ Creed – It’s What Republicans Would Do

In case you didn’t notice, I loathe Donald Trump and am more than willing to pounce on any lie, gaffe, flub, or crime he perpetrates. What I’m not willing to do is engage in the sort of empty critiques that are grounded in a faux reverence for symbolic exercises. That’s what Republicans do. Kaepernick didn’t stand for the anthem? Cut him. Student didn’t recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Scold him. Obama saluted with a latte in his hand? Impeach him.

That’s not my style and it shouldn’t be any liberal’s either. Unfortunately, a slew of news sites have been pointing out that Trump didn’t recite the Apostles’ Creed at George Bush’s funeral on Wednesday. Many of them are liberal outlets. Whether they explicitly criticize him or not, the implication is clear: Gasp! Trump didn’t recite the Apostles’ Creed! (Clutches pearls, faints.)

In reciting the Apostles’ Creed, one states their belief in the Christian fairy tale. The Christian-but-not-really-Christian Trump was the only president who did not do this at the funeral. In fact, virtually every attendee recited it in unison as is customary. But Trump stood not reciting the creed and not reading along, likely because he was busy praying to himself in his head. Melania also didn’t recite the creed, and I can only speculate she didn’t want to anger the almighty Chernobog by affirming belief in another god.

Even though Trump says he’s Christian, he’s probably the least religious president we’ve had since Abraham Lincoln. So we already know he’s bullshitting us about his religious beliefs. But even if he were a true believer, there is nothing wrong with declining to recite the Apostles’ Creed, or any hymn, prayer, sonnet, haiku or Eagles song you don’t want to recite (especially Eagles songs because those are trash). Everyone has their own way of practicing this gobbledygook, so far be it from this atheist to tell them how to do it.

Besides, it’s not like we’re short on legitimate anti-Trump grievances.